Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-08

WHAT AN OLD STkNOGkAPhEk sAfS-WBY INACCC-
RATE REPORTS PASS UNQuEsTIoNED-wHAT Is RE-
QuIRED TO MAKE A FIRST CLASS sTESoGRAPHIC
REPORTER.
"The ignorance OF the public on the subject OF
shorthand writing, said an Old stenographer TO a
STAR reporter, sis SO startling as TO be almost ia
capable OF belief. Apparently, men who are re-
ported ought to have a sufficient recollection OF
precisely what they say TO detect errors and omts-
sions In the so-csiled reports. This is true as 10
carefully prepared addresses, but is seldom or
never the case as TO testimony or impromtu speak,
ing OF any description And so, I'm shorthand,
which ought TO be an exact science, and, indeed
is, in competent hands, the groSsest botchers and
blunderers often preserve fair reputation and
deceive their patrons and the public Indefinitely.
All that Is required Is great deal or assurance
and very little knowledge OF shorthand. Many
witness and many a public speaker, on being
assured by the Stenographer that the report con-
tained tusJ what was said, has RETAINED from re-
pudiaGlg 1t, or been Illuminated into giving a
puzzled assent on the Theory that the sGenogra-
pher could not err and has accounted Tor supposed
peculiarties OF speech on the theory that he must
have been nervous and disconnected or that he did
not say just what was intended. This deception
is in part made possible by the fact that the re-
port always contains great deal that was actu-
ally said, its fidelity varying with the simplicity
Oh substance and speed OF Speech and the reporter
points to the accuracy OF part in proof OF
THE ACCURACY OF THE WHOLE.
"The Incompetence OF some OF the official re-
porters OF congressional committees has been
well known in the profession since 1852, when the
Offices became political, and has, at times. to
the puoic notice through the press such men
making Iairly accurate reports where the speak
ing was SLOW and the matter simple and failing
lalnentably when the reverse WIS the case. The
records OF our courts contain thousands of pages
OF testimony given under oath and supposed 10 be
accurate, Yet lul OF errors or greater or less I'M
portance. Many OF these errors i Well-JTalned
stenographer can detect on aignt, and Yet no one
else can account Tor them; as memory viii not, as
a rule, enable men 10 recall Ju5S what words Jney
use at given time or place.
LAWYERS AND STENoGRAPHERS.
Strange as II may seem, lawyers are seldom able
to Judge OF stenographer although nearly all
think they CAM provided the stenographer be able
to preserve the general substance OF testimony or
argument. Lawyers accept the oft repeated state
menJ that the notes show such and such things
were said and go on for years employing incompe-
tent reporters never realizing what results might
have been reached In lost lawsuits IL they mad
had the benefit OF SO much OF the testimony or
argument as Was uttered at too great rate OF
speed for the reporter TO correctly catch. Public
Officers in the selection OF Official reporters, often
honestly choose men whose applications are boil
stored UP by fraudulent tests oelf-inspired news
paper pufing, or the earnest endorsements or non-
expert but enthusiastic friends; and such men in-
positions with profit 10 themselves and injury 10
those who use their work.
The truth known 10 all stenographerS Is that
very few ever can ut themselves TO be able TO
report accurately under ali circumstances. The
master OF his profession must have exceptional
uuickneSS OF comprehension, and must be able TO
Write al rate OF speed very 0iIficulJ OF ac-
Qu1rement. He must, In addition, be 50 well read
as TO understand In part, at least. every subject
on which ne Is To Wf1te Tor Stenogra DAY does not
furnish any means OF reproducing with certainty
words never before heard. SO many years are re-
uuired for qualification that there Is not first
class reporter in the country under thirty years OF
age; few under forty. In Washington, outside Oh
the reporters OF congressional DEBATES there are
but four men who are masters of snurl-nand re-
DOrtinQ. There are not over
FOKTY N THE UNITED STATES
New York has half q dozen, Philadelphia two
Boston two. There has never been q thoroughly
competent and well trained stenographer in any
OF the southern states and never will be until the
demand Tor such service there justiIes the supply
"Au good reporters know each other personally
or by reputation, but the number OF sO-caIled
stenOgTaphefs no man kn0weth. No good reporter
ever calls an incompetent man into case TO as
sist him; but the incOmpetents cali upon the
skilled reporters frequently, and to the shame OF
the profession be It said that the good reporters
OFTEN respond When the ph0n0graph Is perfected
IT viii bring the tncompetenJs TO grier. Even now
this Is sometimes done by skilled stenographers
who take notes Of the same matter and compare
the results. But when pretender knows of such
intention he Is never caught. He never knowingly
reports against the genuine sten0grapher, but al
once summons TO his aid q sore arm, nc Of cpl
lepSy, loss Of notes, or some other OF the thou
sand little tricks that all Quacks must have at
command"